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E. E. WERNER.

APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE VOLUMETRIC FLOW OF A GAS.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 19. 1915.

1 ,1 95,63 1 Patent ed Aug. 22, 1916 .Yiji'zwsses: Inventor:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST E. WERNER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, IHDiANA.

APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE VOLUMETRIC FLOW OF A GAS.

F0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST E. WERNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Volumetric Flow of a Gas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its primary object the provision of a novel apparatus for indicating the quantitative discharge of a gas in order to enable the flow thereof to be properly regulated.

The invention, while not limited in its application, is designed especially for regulating the flow of a gas to be used for the socalled bleaching of flour, in the use of that type of apparatus in which the bleaching medium is furnished by the volatilization of a liquefied gas.

- As now practised, a tank containing a liq uefied gas, or gaseous compound, is sup plied to the miller, who connects it to the bleaching apparatus and by means of valve mechanism on the tank regulates, as best he can, the flow of the gas therefrom. The rapidity with which the gas volatilizes in the tank is governed to a large extent by tem perature, and it has been found that owing to sudden changesof temperature frequently too much or too little of the is supplied to the flour. Furthermore, even when the temperature is maintained uniform, the gas employed, usually chlorin or some mixture involving the use of chlorin, rapidly corrodes the regulating valve, so that unless the working of the apparatus is closely watched there is likely to be a very material variation in the course of a relatively short time iii the supply of the bleaching gas to the flour.

My invention ailns to provide a ready and easily-observable means of detecting any increase or decrease in the flow of the gas, so that by adjusting the valve on the container or tank the normal flow of the gas may be restored.

\Vith the above objects and purposes in view, my invention consists in indicating the volumetric flow of the gas, by causing the gas to displace a. volume of liquid in a submerged coiled tube, which is horizontally disposed, and each coil of which is provided at its top with an aperture, so that according to the rate of volatilization of the liquid gas and the consequent degree of pressure of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 19, 1915.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Serial No. 22,233.

the gas passing into the tube, one or more of said apertures will be made accessible for the escape of the gas by displacement of the water in the tube, the greater the pressure of the gas the greater the displacement of the water and the greater the number of apertures made accessible to the gas. The

gas escaping through the apertures bubbles up through the liquid in which the perforated tube is submerged, after which it is diluted with air in any convenient way and conveyed to the flour. The liquid in which the perforated tube is submerged is preferably one that will not absorb the gas being used, or combine with any element (if it, so as to vary its condition or change its character; and with this object in view, when chlorin gas is used I prefer to employ a saline solution as the medium through which the escaping gas bubbles.

In an application for a method of indicating the flow of a gas, filed by me November 30th, 1914, serially numbered 874,(i17,l show for the practice of my method a down wardly-inclined tube submerged in a body of liquid and provided with a row of perforations in its upper side. The device referred to in actual commercial use has operated in a highly satisfactory manner, and, so far as I am aware, is the only practical device devised for accomplishing the purposes above referred t lt approximates an ideal means for enabling the volumetric flow of a gas to be ascertained and regulated. it possesses one disadvantage, however, which while not so marked as to seriously militate against its use, it is, nevei'tlieless. desirable to overcome. This disadvantage resides in the fact that owing to the incline of the tube tlicescape of the gas from the apertures is opposed by a constanll ,'increasing counterpressure of liquid as each succeeding aperture is ulu-overed. due to the increasing height of the liquid in the direction of the lower end of the tube Thus, with the first aperture uncovered av definite amount of the gas will, of course, escape through the apertu'i'e. \Vhen, however, the pressure of the gas is sullicient to uncover two apertures the amount of gas escaping from the second aperture will not be the same as that escaping from the first aperture, as the escape of gas from the second aperture is opposed by a greater pressure of the surrmimling liquid. At the same time, the increased pressure of the gas necessary to uncover the second aperture will cause a greater amount of gas to escape from the first aperture. The same conditions obtain relatively as each succeediug aperture is uncovered by the displacement of the liquid in the tube, and it-is impossible for the pressure of the gas to equal ize so as to discharge uniformly from all of the apertures uncovered.

By the use of the present apparatus the objections incident to the use of my prior device referred to are overcome, in that as soon as a plurality of openings is uncovered the pressure of the gas will equalize and the gas will discharge in uniform quantities from all of such apertures. Thus, with the knowledge of the volumetric discharge of the gas through one aperture, the observer is enabled to determine the volumetric discharge from two, three, or more apertures.

by the recess of multiplication, and does not ha ve. to take into consideration any ques tion of variations in pressure at the different apertures, the factors governing the discharge of the gas being uniform throughout.

ing it at one end a tube 2, said tube being hermetically sealed at the point of entrance into the vessel 1 in any suitable manner, the drawing showing the tube as being integral with the vessel 1. as indicated at The tube 2 is preferably bent to form a trap 4, and connects with a reflux bulb 5, to the top of which isconnected a tube (5, to which is designed to be attached a pipe leading to a cylinder, the flow of gas from which is to be regulated. The tube 2 projects a short distance within the vessell, and thence is continued in the form ofacoiled-tube partway across the length of-the vessel "1, the

said tube being horizontally disposed and'pf uniform dimensionsthroughout, and each of its coilsl? being provided at its top with an aperture, said apertures being indicated, in order, by the numerals 8, 9, 10, etc. I Communicating with the vessel 1, an preferably extending from the bottom thereof, is a tube 11 which" is provided with a sei fis provided Y in liquid, preferably a saline solution, in siiflicient quantity to entirly cover the coils 7, and to extend for some distance above these COllS so that the passage through the liquid of the gas 'es indicates a vessel which has'cnten,

the upper portion of the tube 13. and tubes Y,

18, 19, respectively, projecting from oppo site sides of the hood 17 and being sealed about the tube 13, as indicated at 20. The tube 18 is designed to be connected with a I suitable source of air supply, and the tube '19 with an apparatus, such as an agitator.

in the case of bleaching flour, to which the mixed air and gas is to be supplied.

In operation, gas under 'pr ure enters through the tube 6 from a s'u'ita le tank-or reservoir containing the gas and passing through the reservoir 5 and trap 4 enters the tube 2' where its further progress is opposed by the liquid in said tube. Vith a sufiicientpressure of'gas theliquid is displaced in said tube, being forced out'of the apertures 8, 9, etc.. and through the open end of the tube. This continues until the aperture 8 in the first coil is uncovered, that is, rendered accessible to the passage of gas therethrough by the displacement of the liquid in its coil, whenthe gas will escape through said aperture and bubble up through the liquid in the vessel 1. Should the pressure of the gas be great enough the liquid will be forced out of the second -coil'and.

the aperture 9 will be uncovered and the gas escape through said aperture. "Vhile momentarllythere will be an-1nc'rease of pressure in the first coil until the aperture accuracy the amount of gas being dis-' charged according to the number of apertures uncovered. the latter. of course, being evidenced by the rows of bubbles'passing 41p through the liquid in the vessel 1. It

will be readilyjappareut that the volume of liquid in the tube 2 in the portion thereof extending between the apertures of'two adjacent coils is uniform tQroughout tIie length of the tube, and as the tube 2 is liiorizontally disposed, the ccuhtenprimure of the liquid is constant at all stages of operation so that the degree of displacement of the liquid in the coils 7 bears an exact proportion to the degree of pressure of the gas exerted upon saidliqnid. The only "ariable factor is the slight increase of the pressure of gas in the, preceding coil or coils until the aperture in a succeeding coil is uncovered, but, as will be apparent, this is only momentary. The degree IfPIQSSlll'G necessary to displace the liquid in the tube is relatively slight, especially as to the first two or three coils, so: that the device ls quite delicate in ope 'ation and responds readily to 'any variations in pressure of the As thogasvbubbles u-ptl'irough'the liquid in the r ml 1 it passes into the tube 13 and the. reservoir bulb H and thence is discharged through the outlet 15 into the hood 1?, and passing downward is met by and inifcd with the air entering through the tube 19, and the mixed air and gas passes from the tube 19 through asuitablc conduit .to the place ofamilicationn v In the crcnt that the liquid in the vessel 1 is such aswill absorb the gas employed,

it is desirable to provide the rcllux bulb 5. as otherwise when the flow of gas through the tube (3 has been shut otl the gas then in the apparatuswill be absorbed by the liquid. tending to produce a vacuum in the tubes 2 and (5. and if a continuoustube were employed the liquid would be drau'uiqiin such tube and would corrode the joints. W ith the present apparatus. shouldlhinlmccur the bulb 5 is of sllllh'lcni. capacity to clantain the 7 liquid which would thus be suclccd ackaml thus will prevent it' l'roni coining incontacl with thcpiints in thctube G.

. I i purposeol cmlw'llng:ll1 (hops ol moist-me which might be caisried up by the gas pass- |n through the tube ll} l claim: v l. .\u apparatus for indicating the \oliunctric {low of a gas coniprlsinga container having a liquid lhcrciu. and through which said liquid is \isiblr. and provided with an outlet for gas. and a conduit submcrgcd In said liquid at an angle {1: the \criical and Zltlilllilll in colnmuuicalc will: a source of ,Ias under prcx urc and having. apcrlurcs' lu(:lt((l at lulcrall). s parated points.

- L. i\n apparatus. for indicating the vol uniclrlc, llow of a gas comprising a container he reservoir bulb H is simply for the having a liquid therein, andthrough whicn said liquid is visible, and provided with an outlet for gas, and a. conduit submerged in said liquid at an angle to-the vertical and adapted to communicate with a source of gas. under pressure and having a row of apertures in its upper side.

3. An apparatus for indicating the volumetric flow of a gas'comprising a. container having a liquid therein, and through which said liquid is visible, and pro ided with an outlet for gas, and a horizontally-disposed conduit submerged in the liquid of saidcontuous passage, each bend whereof is provided with anaperturefi (E. An apparatus for-indicating the'vo'lum'ctric flow of a'gas comprisinga sub- "nun-god horiiontally disposcd conduit adaptcd to comuulnicate with a. source of gas under-pressureand presenting a symmetrical tortuous passage, each bend whereof is pros aided 'in its vertex with anapcrtHr 7. An apparatus for ilulicatingthe volumetric. [low of a gas"coniprising a sub-- incrged conduit adapted to communicate with a source of gas under pressure and barlug coils, each of which is provided with an apcrturc. v

8. .-'\u apparatus for indicating the voluuu-tric. llow ill a gas comprising a sub merged coilcd tube adapted to communicate with a source of gas under pressure, said tube bcing horizontallwdisposcd and each of its coils ha ring an aperturein its top.

In testimony wherci'ii', I have hereunto set in hand. 7

ERNEST I). \VERNER. 

